CHRISTOPHER?JORDAN?should be playing for the West Indies.
That’s the view of his school coach Roddy Estwick, on hearing that the young fast bowler had been named in England’s squad for the opening cricket Test against Sri Lanka starting next Thursday at Lord’s.
Estwick, a former Barbados fast bowler, who guided Jordan at Combermere, said the 6 foot 2 inch Jordan would have been in the West Indies team for the opening Test against New Zealand at Sabina Park next week if the authorities here had appreciated his value and moved with greater haste.
“I am disappointed he is not playing for the West Indies. He should be in the first Test squad for the West Indies and not in the England squad. I hope the same thing does not happen with Jofra Archer, another promising cricketer, who like Christopher, has a British passport.
“Jordan is more than just a quality seamer. He is an excellent cricketer who has worked hard at his game. Our loss is England’s gain,” Estwick said.
Estwick told WEEKEND?SPORT, that he was not surprised the 25-year-old Jordan, who has taken 172 wickets in 61 first-class matches, is now an international player.
“A few years ago when he left Surrey, he was down and uncertain about his future, but he has the heart and resolve to come back. He has remodelled his action and approach and has looked a different cricketer now he is with Sussex.
“People talk about his bowling, but he is a complete cricketer. He scored a double hundred for Combermere in Under-15 cricket and hit the last ball of the match for six against Coleridge &?Parry in an under-13 final to give Combermere the title. He has always had heart and what I am really pleased about is how he has improved his all-round game. He is looking like the all-rounder I always knew he could become,” Estwick added.
Jordan, who took 12 wickets during England’s 3-2 One-Day series defeat by Sri Lanka and has played 13 ODIs and seven T20s since making his England debut last September, is one of three uncapped players chosen by England. The others are all-rounder Moeen Ali and 24-year-old Australian-born batsman Sam Robson.
England selector James Whitaker said Jordan possessed all the qualities needed by the England Test side.
“Full credit to Sussex. Mark Robinson and the coaches down there have been terrific for Chris since he moved there a couple of years ago.
“He’s consistent now, his rhythm is good. You would probably say he is more skilled with the red ball but initially he got his chance with the white . . . . He’s got all the attributes that we want for a seamer in our squad so it will be up to Alastair (Cook) to decide on the day or before if he gets a spot,” Whittaker said.
Jordan previously represented Barbados in first-class cricket and regional limited-overs competitions before he was snapped up by England.
SQUAD: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Sam Robson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes.
